Spatially Coupled Block Code Layout for Lower Bit Error Rates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in reducing the bit error rate and improving coding performance, particularly in coding schemes based on spatial coupling, where parity propagation and error floors are significant issues.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that utilize a symbol matrix with specific block groupings and checked symbols to reduce short loops and bit error rates, enhancing coding performance by storing to-be-encoded symbols and checked symbols in a block matrix.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spatial coupling coding scheme is used to improve data transmission reliability, then coding performance is improved, but bit error rate reduction becomes challenging due to parity propagation issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidbit error rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the codeword into multiple blocks with distinct row number differences, segmenting the parity propagation path. This segmentation prevents error propagation across the entire codeword by isolating errors to specific blocks, thereby reducing bit error rate while maintaining the reliability benefits of spatial coupling coding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different row number difference characteristics to different blocks locally. Each block has specific row number differences that are distinct from other blocks, creating local quality variations that prevent uniform error propagation and improve overall decoding performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional block arrangements are used in spatial coupling codes, then encoding is simplified, but short loops in protograph cause poor stall-pattern performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding simplicityVSAvoidstall-pattern performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric row number differences between blocks, where each block has unique row number differences that break the symmetry causing short loops in traditional arrangements. This asymmetric design eliminates problematic short loops while maintaining encoding simplicity through systematic block construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the two-dimensional protograph structure by manipulating row number differences in the vertical dimension. By carefully controlling row number differences across blocks, the patent transforms the structural arrangement to eliminate short loops without complicating the encoding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4087165B1Communication method and apparatus for error correction using spatially coupled block codes
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4087165B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4087165B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP4087165B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method includes: obtaining a plurality of to-be-encoded symbols; determining, from a symbol matrix, a plurality of first symbols corresponding to the plurality of to-be-encoded symbols, where the symbol matrix includes a plurality of rows of symbols and a plurality of columns of symbols, symbols in the symbol matrix constitute a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks constitute a block matrix, each block includes B rows of symbols and B columns of symbols, and the first symbols include symbols in a plurality of first blocks in the block matrix, where the plurality of first blocks are grouped into at least one block group, a difference between row numbers of any two first blocks in any block group is not the same as a difference between row numbers of other two first blocks in the any block group, and B is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and performing check processing on the first symbols and the to-be-encoded symbols to generate checked symbols. This can reduce a bit error rate and improve coding performance.